Terri Wells listens to the community

I'm writing to endorse Terri Wells for re-election as a Buncombe County Commissioner in District 2. Unopposed in the Primary, she was not on the ballot but she will need your vote in the General Election.

In her first term, Commissioner Wells has proven to be a dedicated public servant with an authentic desire to engage with the business community and her constituents.

For instance, she has consistently scheduled and held listening sessions with residents — outside of the election cycle.

Recently she held a listening session for Grovemont and Swannanoa residents, and got an earful about the plan by county staff to close the Swannanoa Library.

As typical for her, I saw her dive into the issue, learn as much as she could, gather collaborators and then champion a temporary solution to immediately halt the closure (and keep it open for at least another year). Last week, her colleagues voted unanimously to keep the library open.

You won't see a press release by Terri about her role in this because that’s not her style. She listens, researches the issue and builds consensus and support among many stakeholders. It’s pretty much never about her.

From my view as a businessperson, this inclusive and proactive approach is vital for sustaining and growing our diverse business environment, ranging from small businesses, family-owned ventures to larger corporations.

- David Billstrom, Black Mountain
Asheville Citizen-Times, April 7, 2024

Keep Wells working for Buncombe

It's not just a new year - it's an election year. I give strong support to returning Terri Wells to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in the new District 2. This district runs from Candler through Leicester, over to Swannanoa, and includes all of North Buncombe, including Weaverville and parts of Woodfin.

I have known and respected Terri for over 15 years. We have worked together on county farmland and open-land conservation projects. She is a ninth-generation farmer. Farmers, business owners, and college students who have gotten to know her trust her. She is smart, organized, and hardworking. Her first-term work on the Board of Commissioners has built her knowledge of finance, budgets, and public policy.

Just as important: Terri listens. She has traveled the county hosting town meetings. She has met so many people and heard so many stories: economic challenges, out-of-control development, confusion about public services, the crisis in public education, and the lack of internet throughout the county. She has heard it all.

In a time when our county faces these challenges - challenges that require serious, informed thought and visionary solutions - we need to keep Terri Wells on the Board of Commissioners.

- Nancy Nehls Nelson, Weaverville
Mountain Express, January 22, 2024

Terri Wells is the commissioner we need

I am writing in support of Terri Wells for Buncombe County Commissioner, District 2. Terri is a Buncombe County native who knows and loves our community.

I met Terri when she was part of the Buncombe County Ag Advisory Board. She was a leader in developing strategies to protect farmland and open spaces through the county's farmland preservation plan. In her first term as County Commissioner, Terri successfully led efforts to secure funding for both land conservation and affordable housing.

She knows how to balance the needs of our community and she knows how to listen to her constituents. She is a no nonsense problem solver, both smart and compassionate, fiscally prudent but willing to invest in our future. For residents of Candler, Leicester, Swannanoa, and northwest Buncombe County, Terri Wells is the Commissioner we need.

Smithson Mills, Candler
Asheville Citizen-Times, January 14, 2024

Wells works to solve practical problems of local government

I am pleased that I can now vote for Terri Wells, current District 1 Commissioner for election from District 2. With the redrawn districts, Terri, who lives in Sandy Mush, will now also represent Candler.

Terri works hard to solve the practical problems of local government. I worked closely with Terri, lead commissioner on the Buncombe County Broadband Working Group. Through the efforts of Terri and Tim Love, Director of Economic Development, Buncombe County has won federal and state funding to build fiber-based broadband to many thousands of homes that would not otherwise have broadband. We need Terri to continue these efforts, particularly for South Candler.

I have also supported Terri in her efforts to conserve more of the rural land in Buncombe County. Terri has personally led the efforts to conserve farmland and high country in the beautiful Sandy Mush area for many years. We now need similar conservation efforts in the undeveloped parts of Candler so that Buncombe County has the right balance between rural conserved areas and urban development.

Terri, a professional educator, loves serving us and cares deeply about our county. I strongly endorse Terri for County Commissioner. We need Terri, a pragmatic, enthusiastic, listening commissioner to serve Candler and all of Buncombe County.

- Stagg Newman, Candler
Asheville Citizen-Times, January 14, 2024

Supporting Wells for reelection as County Commissioner

Terri Wells has our enthusiastic support to remain our highly effective Buncombe County Commissioner.

As active volunteers with the Leicester and Sandy Mush Community Centers, Terri has worked side by side with us.

- Distributing food and other needed services during COVID

- Supporting and growing our Leicester Farmers Market

- Organizing Town Hall meetings with County departments for information and support

- Accessing funding for infrastructure repairs and upgrades

- Active involvement in support of local businesses

- Farmland and open space preservation

- Educational outreach initiatives

- Quality of life issues for aging and isolated communities

She is personally committed and actively engaged in improving the lives of our communities. We urge you to join us in supporting her for re-election as County Commissioner.

-Ilsa and Fred Myers, Leicester
Asheville Citizen-Times

Wells is a public servant

I am an unaffiliated voter who supports Terri Wells in the District 2 Buncombe County Commission race. I cannot tolerate politics, but I value public service. Terri Wells is a public servant in every sense of the term. Every time I've contacted her, she has been responsive: listening carefully, asking and answering questions, and lending support as needed.

I've known Terri for a while now and consider her a friend. All of our interactions have been through one, the other, or both of us volunteering our time to help the community. If you didn't know that Terri spends a lot of time volunteering, it's because she doesn't pose for the cameras putting a scoop of food on a plate at Thanksgiving. This past weekend, she and I were in a group clearing briars from hiking trails, and we had a great time doing it!

Throughout Terri's professional life, she has been involved in education and agriculture, and as a Commissioner she has increased public school funding, expanded rural broadband access, and has led efforts to conserve productive farmland and natural resources.

Her district was recently redrawn to encompass Candler, Sandy Mush, Leicester, Newfound, Alexander, French Broad, Weaverville, Flat Creek, Jupiter, Barnardsville, Reems Creek, Ox Creek, Swannanoa, and parts of Woodfin. These are some of our most rural areas, and Terri is uniquely suited to serve them because she is the 9th generation of her family to farm WNC.

When Terri's district was redrawn, my area was excised from it, but I still support her because of the positve impacts she has made on me personally and on my neighbors. I ask those of you in District 2 to get to know her. Once you do, you will see the importance of keeping this public servant on the County Commission.

Kim "Dirt" Murphy, Asheville
Mountain Xpress, January 31, 2024